Foraminous fire plate or cover.



P. J. MOONEY. FORAMINOUS FIRE PLATE OR COVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

v 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

lfawfJJiaa/ay P. J. MOONEY.

FORAMINOUS FIRE PLATE 0R COVER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908. 946,701 Patented Jan-18,1910;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

anvzntoz PATRICK J'. MOONEY, OF BRAZIL, INDIANA.

FORAMINOUS FIRE PLATE OR COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Application filed November 3, 1908. Serial No. 460,853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. MooNnY, citizen of the United States,residing at Brazil, in the county of Clay and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Foraminous Fire Platesor Covers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain new and useful improvements inforaminous fire plate covers such as that described and claimed in myprior Letters Patent of the United States, #828,330, granted to meAugust lt, 1906.

The invention covered by that patent consists of a foraminous plate orcover designed to be easily applied to any bed of fuel for the purposeof uniformly distributing and increasing the draft, the said deviceeffecting the complete oxygenizing of the combustible gases, andconfining the gases until they are thoroughly connningled with theoxygen and consumed, while at the same time not detracting from thedraft but on the other hand materially assisting the same, and as aresult eifeeting improved economies in the consumption of fuel forheating and other purposes.

In the ordinary use of a foraminous fire plate cover where soft coal orsimilar fuel is used, a large portion of the gas that is generated fromthe volatile combustible matter in the fuel passes up through theforamina of the fire plate, unliglited, at a low temperature, causingthe fire plate to remain comparatively cool while this gas predominatesin the gaseous mixture burning above the fire plate. The generating ofthis gas lasts until the fuel bed and fire plate (both of which remainin a stationary position in the early stages of consumption of the fuel)have settled to say about Q, of the original depth of the fuel bed, but,when the fuel reaches a state when it is almost wholly composed ofcarbon, the temperature of the fire plate increases more rapidly and,owing to the high degree of heat to which the fire plate is subjected,causes deterioration thereof when the carbon is burning.

Recognizing these conditions, my present invention contemplates meansfor producing a circulation of cool air through the interior of the fireplate, so as to have a cooling effect thereon, aiding it to resist thedeleterious effects of the fire while both the volatile combustiblematter and also the carbon, are burning.

The invention also has for its object, an improved construction offoraminous fire plate cover so arranged as to admit of being easily andquickly applied to the fuel bed, and as easily removed therefrom for thepurpose of replenishing the fuel or any other purpose. And the inventionalso has for its object, means for checking the downward movement of thefire plate at a definite point, as the fuel is consumed and settles.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainarrangements, constructions and combinations of the parts that I shallhereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a stove embodying theimprovements of my invention, parts of the stove being shown in sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the fire pot ofthe stove; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the fire plate coverdetached. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a stove, partly broken away toillustrate a modification; and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the saidmodified form.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the salne reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3,the numeral 1 designates the fire pot of a stove, the fire pot being ofany desired or conventional construction or design, but being shown asrectangular in the present instance.

2 designates the rear wall of the fire pot.

My improved foraminous fire plate cover 3 is preferably of a truncatedwedge shape, and is hollow, as clearly illustrated in the drawing and isformed with a plurality of foramina 4 which extends verticallytherethrough to form passages through which the volatile combustiblematter in the fuel passes, mixed with the oxygen entering the magazineor fire pot of the stove below the grate bars or in any other manner togain access to the fuel, it being understood that in operation, theoxygen will be confined to a proper degree by means of said plate andwill thoroughly commingle wit-h the fuel and with the combustible gasesevolved, and will thereby result in the complete combustion of the fuel,while at the same time such gases and free oxygen will be distributed bysaid plate so as to effect all portions of the fuel bed.

It is to be understood that the plate cover 3 is supported by the fuelbed, and that it will swing down with said bed and thereby always retainits proper position with relation thereto, and that the provision of theorifices in the plate provides a plurality of drafts which will act inthe nature of suction orifices and insure the proper combustion, thecarbon-monoxid being burned as it issues out of said orifices, therebyconsti tuting flame-j ets. In order to provide means whereby this platemay be easily applied to the fuel bed and as readily removed therefrom,and also in order to admit cool air into said plate so that it may becirculated therein, the plate is secured at one end to a laterallyextending shaft or axis 5 which is journaled in bearings 6 formed on orsecured in any desired way to the rear wall 2 of the fire pot. Thisshaft or axis 5 is hollow or tubular and is preferably open throughoutits length and is formed contiguous to the fire plate or cover 3 with anelongated opening 7 establishing communication between the interior ofthe shaft and the interior of the fire plate, so that cool air may befreely admitted through the shaft and in to the fire plate so as tocirculate therein, and tend to maintain the fire plate at a relativelylow temperature. The said shaft or axis may be formed with a square end8 or the like so that a tool such as a wrench may be applied thereto forthe purpose of swinging the plate up when it is desired to replenish thefire or in swinging the plate down to rest upon the fuel. Also, ifdesired, such end of the shaft may be formed with transversely extendingopenings 9 for the reception of a poker or the like for the samepurpose.

10 designates lugs or projections that are formed on and secured withinthe fire pot to the opposite side walls thereof, in order to limit orcheck the settling of the fire plate at the desired elevation.

In the modification of my invention, illustrated in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, 1designates a stove body, 2 the rear wall of the fire pot, and 3 themodified form of the fire plate or r cover. which is hollow as indicatedin Fig. t, and which is formed with openings or passages 4P similar tothe openings 4- before described. In this modified form of the fireplate or cover, the hollow shaft 5 thereof is journaled in the rear wall2* as indicated at 6 in such position as to expose a portion of saidshaft to the atmosphere, the shaft being provided with a slot 7 whichextends longitudinally, as shown, and which is formed so as to extendthrough both walls of the shaft, as clearly illustrated in Figs. at and5 so as to permit the air to enter the shaft not only at the endthereof, but directly through the slot 7 and then circulate through thehollow fire plate or cover 3*. In this modification also, the shaft isformed with a non-circular end 8 and with openings 9 and the fire pot ofthe stove is formed with lugs or projections 10 designed to limit orcheck the settling of the fire plate at the desired elevation.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simpleconstruction of foraminous fire plate cover which not only possesses theadvantageous features set forth more fully in the specificationaccon'ipanying my prior patent No. 828,330, but it also possesses theadditional advantages in that it provides means for conveniently placingthe fire plate in position, and removing it therefrom; while inoperation means are provided for the circulation of cool air so as toreduce to a minimum degree the injurious effects of the high temperaturecaused by the burning fuel.

It is to be understood that my imprm'ed foraminons fire plate cover isso constructed that it does not admit the air from its interior to theinterior of the fire pot, but that the air entering the shaft 7 or shaft7 merely circulates within the hollow wedge shaped body which forms thefire plate and does not obtain access to the fuel bed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. The combination with a fire pot provided with bearing openings and onits interior with stop lugs in a plane below said openings, of a hollowfire plate provided with a shaft adapted to be journaled in saidopenings and arranged to rest upon the fuel bed and swing downwardly asthe fuel bed sinks, said plate being formed with foramina extendingtherethrough and with independent means for permitting a circulation ofair in through said shaft to the interior of the fire pot, all aroundthe walls of the foramina, the stop lugs being arranged to limit thedownward sinking movement of the fire plate.

2. The combination with the fire pot of a stove, of a hollow shaftjournaled therein with a portion exposed to the exterior of the stoveand formed in such portion with a slot and a hollow foralninous fireplate secured to said shaft and formed with an opening establishingcommunication between the interior of the fire plate and the interior ofthe shaft, whereby cool air may be passed into the fire plate directlythrough the slot and opening.

In testimony whereof I alIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PATRICK J. MOONEY. [L.s.] lVitnesses MARTIN M. MORAN, IGNATIUS JARBoE.

